Just off the coast of Newfoundland is a collection of islands that are not part of the province. Indeed, they are not even Canada! St. Pierre and Miquelon are the last piece of French territory in North America. They are quite distinct from Newfoundland and Labrador, making them a must visit. Indeed, the tourism industry of St. Pierre and Miquelon and the Burin Peninsula, in Eastern Newfoundland, are closely entwined. You’ll discover a whole new world when you take the ferry from the town of Fortune. Here’s some of the coolest facts about Newfoundland and Labrador’s closest foreign country.

Shipwrecks have longed captured the imagination of the public. Shipwreck stories, historic and fictional, contain many of the themes that draw interest: man vs. nature, courage, survival, tragedy, hope, life, and death. Newfoundland and Labrador, with 500 years of nautical history, has its fair share of shipwrecks – perhaps more so, given the amount of historic sea traffic, the province’s position in the north Atlantic Ocean, and the foggy and stormy weather. Indeed, some estimates place the number of shipwrecks off the coast of Newfoundland in excess of 10,000!

Each year during the third weekend of September, the Town of Elliston, the Root Cellar Capital of the World, hosts Canada’s and Newfoundland & Labrador’s top chefs and hundreds of participants to celebrate culinary excellence and the root cellar’s cultural heritage. This year, participants voted on Newfoundland & Labrador’s best cod dish crowning the “King of Cod”, hiked the coastal scenes of Elliston, and sat with new and old friends to celebrate the latest installment of the Roots, Rants, and Roars Fall Festival.

“The Known Soldier” is one of 6 performances that the Gros Morne Theatre Festival (GMTF) is doing this summer in Cow Head. On the 100th anniversary of World War 1 it is fitting to produce a play about one of Newfoundland’s heroes of that war- Tommy Ricketts. And “The Known Soldier” was written and directed by the talented Jeff Pitcher, GMTF’s artistic director! What is significant about Tommy Ricketts is that he lied about his age when he signed up (he was just 15 at the time) yet in just a couple of years he had earned the Victoria Cross, the Britain’s highest award for valour. His sprints over open fields in the heat of battle are legendary.

We recently were fortunate to see “The Beauty Queen of Leenane” which was written by Martin McDonagh and directed by Jeff Pitcher. This is one of 6 performances performed at the Gros Morne Theatre Festival this summer in Cow Head in Gros Morne National Park. What we like about Theatre Newfoundland Labrador’s (TNL) philosophy is that they either perform plays about Newfoundland and Labrador or plays that have a close connection to the province. Although “The Beauty Queen of Leenane” takes place in rural Ireland its theme of isolation certainly could resonate with residents of outport Newfoundland.

Newfoundland music star Pamela Morgan is heavily involved in this year’s Stephenville Theatre Festival and we recently had a chance to speak to her about some of the shows she is involved in. First some background-from 1976-1995 Pamela Morgan was lead singer, guitarist, and arranger for Canada’s pioneering “Celtic” band, Newfoundland’s Figgy Duff, who brought the traditional Newfoundland music to a global audience. Since 1995 she has created several albums and toured extensively in Canada, the US and in Europe. More recently she has overseen productions of two of her original scores for live theater; her own folk opera, “The Nobleman's Wedding”, and Figgy Duff's score for Shakespeare's "Tempest". For the Stephenville Theatre Festival she told us that she has reworked “The Nobleman's Wedding” creating a full length folk opera in the process.

My last two days were busy visiting the Johnson Geo-Centre, the Railway Coastal Museum, The Rooms, meeting with Mark Hiscock from Shanneyganock, twacking, listening to Stan Picket and the Rocket Players, a visit to the Newfoundland and Labrador Craft council...and enjoying my last....iceberg

Now entering it's 11th year, The Leyton Gallery of Fine Art carries some of the most important rising national and international artists living and working in Eastern Canada. Works range from realism to emotionalism to abstract symbolic work. They carry paintings, prints, and sculpture and will ship anywhere in the world. I sat down with owner Bonnie Leyton and Manager Tia Connolly to talk art, community and their unique venue.

Have you ever felt the rush before boarding a ship for an adventure into Canada’s North?

The Northern Ranger ferry service links the small, remote communities of Nunatsiavut during the summer months with a 5-day return trip: Happy Valley-Goose Bay to Nain. This return trip affords you a rare opportunity to learn the history and culture of this region and the Labrador Inuit lifestyle. During each community visit you will witness how vibrant traditions and culture resonate within modern communities; all under the backdrop of a wild and majestic sub-arctic Labrador environment that profoundly contrasts with the island of Newfoundland.

Newfoundlandlers and Labradorians have a long history with the sea. It goes back centuries. From Beothuk hunting expeditions in birch bark canoes, to explorers seeking a new world away from the shores of Europe, to cowboys — yes, I said cowboys.

The theatre doors open and the crowd of people waiting in the small lobby are allowed to take their seats. There is a sense of anticipation as audience members whisper to one another. The only things on stage are six wooden chairs stacked to resemble a solitary tree. Perhaps each chair represents a different branch of Al Pittman’s work that, when stacked together, create one solid play, With Cruel Times in Between.

As a major traveller I have stayed at everything from a hut in the jungle in Thailand to an invitation only palace in Italy. My stay at The Inn at Happy Adventure in Newfoundland was one of the most amazing and memorable I have ever experienced.

Growing up in Newfoundland and Labrador, one of the fondest memories as a child was heading out to my Grandmother’s house for Jiggs’ Dinner. For those of you who don’t know, Jiggs’ Dinner – also known as “boiled” or “Sunday” dinner – is a traditional meal that consists of salt beef, turnip, cabbage, potato, carrot, pease pudding, and more often than not, some kind of dessert. Our Jiggs’ Dinner, on both sides of the family, included a turkey.

Cruise Nunatsiavut in Labrador to experience unique aboriginal culture and breathtaking Arctic scenery. Find yourself in the adventures and mysteries of the Labrador Inuit as you cruise through their homeland.

The Northern Ranger ferry service links the small, remote communities of Nunatsiavut during the summer months with a 5-day return trip: Happy Valley-Goose Bay to Nain. Passengers have a choice of accommodations ranging from a dormitory bunk to a deluxe cabin with ensuite.

The return trip affords you a rare opportunity to learn the history and culture of this region and the Labrador Inuit lifstyle. During each community visit you will witness how vibrant traditions and culture resonate within modern communities; all under the backdrop of a wild and majestic sub-arctic Labrador environment that profoundly contrasts with the island of Newfoundland.